JP2004333700A - Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
JP2004333700A
JP2004333700A JP2003127323A JP2003127323A JP2004333700A JP 2004333700 A JP2004333700 A JP 2004333700A JP 2003127323 A JP2003127323 A JP 2003127323A JP 2003127323 A JP2003127323 A JP 2003127323A JP 2004333700 A JP2004333700 A JP 2004333700A
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liquid crystal
display device
crystal display
electrode
outer edge
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JP3912320B2 (en
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Tsuyoshi Maeda
強 前田
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Seiko Epson Corp
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Seiko Epson Corp
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Priority to JP2003127323A priority Critical patent/JP3912320B2/en
Priority to US10/826,364 priority patent/US7087929B2/en
Priority to TW093111891A priority patent/TWI281562B/en
Priority to KR1020040030113A priority patent/KR100733213B1/en
Priority to CNB2004100374684A priority patent/CN1282005C/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J27/00—Cooking-vessels
    • A47J27/14—Cooking-vessels for use in hotels, restaurants, or canteens
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1337—Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers
    • G02F1/133707—Structures for producing distorted electric fields, e.g. bumps, protrusions, recesses, slits in pixel electrodes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • C09K19/00—Liquid crystal materials
    • C09K19/02—Liquid crystal materials characterised by optical, electrical or physical properties of the components, in general
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/137—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering
    • G02F1/139—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering based on orientation effects in which the liquid crystal remains transparent
    • G02F1/1393—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect, e.g. field-induced phase transition, orientation effect, guest-host interaction or dynamic scattering based on orientation effects in which the liquid crystal remains transparent the birefringence of the liquid crystal being electrically controlled, e.g. ECB-, DAP-, HAN-, PI-LC cells
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B02—CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
    • B02B—PREPARING GRAIN FOR MILLING; REFINING GRANULAR FRUIT TO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS BY WORKING THE SURFACE
    • B02B7/00—Auxiliary devices
    • B02B7/02—Feeding or discharging devices
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1343—Electrodes
    • G02F1/134309—Electrodes characterised by their geometrical arrangement
    • G02F1/134318—Electrodes characterised by their geometrical arrangement having a patterned common electrode

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device capable of suppressing a display defect such as a residual image, being made high in luminance and high in contrast and obtaining a display wide in viewing angle particularly. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display device is constructed by interposing a liquid crystal layer 50 between a pair of substrates 18, 25, forming strip-shaped common electrodes 14 on the inside surface of the one substrate 25 out of a pair of the substrates 18, 25, and besides forming rectangular pixel electrodes 9 on the inside surface of the other substrate 18. The liquid crystal layer 50 is constructed with a liquid crystal having negative dielectric anisotropy and taking on vertical alignment in the initial alignment state. The liquid crystal display device is provided with a construction in which the outer end of the pixel electrode 9 is disposed more inside or more outside than the outer end of the common electrode 14 as a means to control the direction of falling down of the vertically aligned liquid crystal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、液晶表示装置及び電子機器に関し、特に高コントラスト、広視野角の表示を可能とする液晶表示装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
液晶表示装置において広視野角の表示を得る技術として、例えば特許文献１では垂直配向液晶を用いる半透過反射型液晶表示装置が提案されている。その特徴は、以下の３点である。
（１）誘電異方性が負の液晶を基板に対して垂直に配向させ、電圧印加によってこれを倒す「ＶＡ（Ｖｅｒｔｉｃａｌ Ａｌｉｇｎｍｅｎｔ）モード」を採用している点。
（２）透過表示領域と反射表示領域の液晶層厚（セルギャップ）が異なる「マルチギャップ構造」を採用している点。
（３）透過表示領域を正八角形又は円とし、この領域内で液晶が等方的に倒れるように対向基板上の透過表示領域の中央に突起を設けている点。すなわち、「配向分割構造」を採用している点。
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開２００２−３５０８５３号公報
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上述したように、特許文献１の液晶表示装置においては、透過表示領域の中央に突起を設け、液晶の配向方向を規制しているが、周辺の反射表示領域の液晶に対する配向規制については全く触れられていない。また、画素のエッジにおいても配向不良が生じる惧れがあり、上記特許文献１に開示された構成のように、透過表示領域の中央に突起を設けただけでは液晶の配向規制が完全に行われず、ディスクリネーションと呼ばれる配向乱れが生じ、これが残像等の表示不良の原因になる場合がある。また、液晶の各々の配向領域は異なる視角特性を有するため、斜め方向から当該液晶表示装置を観たときに、ざらざらとしたしみ状のむら視認され、表示特性の低下に繋がる場合もある。
【０００５】
本発明は、上記の課題を解決するためになされたもので、残像等の表示不良が抑えられ、さらには高輝度化、高コントラスト化が可能であり、特に広視野角の表示を得ることが可能な液晶表示装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の目的を達成するために、本発明の液晶表示装置は、一対の基板間に液晶層を挟持してなる液晶表示装置であって、前記一対の基板のうち、一方の基板の内面側には短冊状の共通電極が形成される一方、他方の基板の内面側には矩形状の画素電極が形成されてなり、前記液晶層は、初期配向状態が垂直配向を呈する誘電異方性が負の液晶から構成され、前記垂直配向した液晶の倒れる方向を規制する手段として、前記画素電極の外縁が、前記共通電極の外縁よりも内側若しくは外側に配設された構成を具備することを特徴とする。
【０００７】
このような液晶表示装置によると、初期配向状態が垂直配向を呈する誘電率異方性が負の液晶にて液晶層を構成し、その垂直配向した液晶の倒れる方向（傾倒方向）を、矩形状の画素電極と短冊状の共通電極との位置関係に基づいて規制するものとしたため、配向乱れが生じ難く、該配向乱れに基づく残像等の表示不良が生じ難くいものとなっている。つまり、画素電極の外縁を共通電極の外縁よりも内側若しくは外側に配設することで、各電極間に斜め電界を生じさせ、該斜め電界に応じて前記液晶の倒れる方向を規制する構成としたために、電極に対して特許文献１に記載されたような突起を形成せずとも、液晶の傾倒方向を十分に規制することが可能となったのである。その結果、液晶配向不良に基づく表示不良の発生が抑えられ、特に画素のエッジ（外縁領域）においても液晶の傾倒方向を規制することが可能となるため、表示領域全体について表示特性を更に向上させることが可能となった。
【０００８】
本発明の液晶表示装置の更なる具体的構成として、短冊状の共通電極と矩形状の画素電極が少なくとも平面的に重畳する部分を含み、該短冊状の共通電極の長手方向に画素電極が複数並列した構成とすることができる。この場合において、一つの画素電極の外縁が、共通電極の幅方向に対して内側若しくは外側に形成された構成とすれば、上述したように画素電極のエッジ部分において液晶分子の傾倒方向を効果的に規制することが可能となる。
【０００９】
また、前記画素電極及び／又は共通電極には、前記垂直配向した液晶の倒れる方向を規制する手段として、該電極にスリット状の開口部及び／又は該電極上に凸部が形成されてなり、前記開口部及び／又は凸部のうち画素内で最も外縁側に形成された開口部及び／又は凸部を備える電極の外縁が、他方の電極の外縁よりも外側に配設されてなるものとすることができる。
【００１０】
この場合、画素電極及び／又は共通電極に形成された開口部及び／又は凸部のうち、画素内で最も外縁側に形成された開口部及び／又は凸部を備える方の電極（例えば画素電極）の外縁を、他方の電極（例えば共通電極）の外縁よりも外側に配設したため、他方の電極（例えば共通電極）の外縁に開口部（終端開口部とも言う）を備えた構成となる。したがって、画素内で最も外縁側に形成された開口部及び／又は凸部に対して、それとは異なる側の電極に終端開口部が形成されることとなり、これらによって配向規制される液晶分子については配向乱れが生じ難くなり、その結果、残像等の表示不良が一層生じ難いものとなり、また、斜め方向から観たときに、ざらざらとしたしみ状のむらが視認される等の不具合も解消することが可能となる。
【００１１】
なお、上述した液晶の配向を規制するための開口部及び／又は凸部が、前記画素電極及び共通電極の双方に形成され、そのうち任意の開口部及び／又は凸部と、それに隣接する開口部及び／又は凸部とは、それぞれ異なる電極側に形成されてなるものとすることができる。この場合、隣接する開口部及び／又は凸部が互いに異なる電極に形成された構成となるため、これらによって配向規制される液晶分子については配向乱れが生じ難くなり、その結果、残像等の表示不良が一層生じ難いものとなり、また、斜め方向から観たときに、ざらざらとしたしみ状のむらが視認される等の不具合も解消することが可能となる。そして、このように各電極に互い違いに形成した開口部及び／又は凸部について、そのうちの画素内で最も外縁側に形成された開口部及び／又は凸部に対して、それとは異なる側の電極に終端開口部を形成することで、画素の中心からエッジまで一層完全な配向分割を行うことができ、表示特性の極めて高い液晶表示装置を提供することが可能となる。
【００１２】
また、前記開口部及び／又は凸部の幅をＷとした場合、前記画素電極の外縁は、前記共通電極の外縁よりも概ねＷ／２だけ内側若しくは外側に配設されてなるものとすることができる。この場合、電極に形成した開口部及び／又は凸部と同じ効果で画素のエッジ部から内側へ斜め電界を印加することが可能となる。ここで、画素電極の外縁と共通電極の外縁とのズレがＷ／２未満の場合、斜め電界の効果が小さくなる場合があり、該ズレがＷ／２よりも大きくなる場合、電極の形成されない部分の液晶は動き難くなるので開口率が低下することとなり好ましくない。
【００１３】
さらに本発明の液晶表示装置について、１つのドット領域内に透過表示を行う透過表示領域と、反射表示を行う反射表示領域とを具備してなり、前記一対の基板のうちの少なくとも一方の基板と前記液晶層との間に、前記反射表示領域と前記透過表示領域とで前記液晶層の層厚を異ならせる液晶層厚調整層が少なくとも前記反射表示領域に設けられてなるものとすることができる。
【００１４】
このような液晶表示装置によると、反射表示領域と透過表示領域とで液晶層の層厚を異ならせる液晶層厚調整層を設けたため、反射表示領域と透過表示領域との間のリタデーション差が低減される。すなわち、反射表示においては表示面側から入射した光が液晶層を２回通過して表示に供されるのに対し、透過表示においては背面側から入射した光が液晶層を１回通過して表示に供されるため、各表示についてリタデーション差が生じることとなるが、上記構成では液晶層厚調整層を形成することによってそのリタデーション差を低減し、それに基づくコントラストの低下を解消している。そして、このように透過表示と反射表示の双方において高コントラストの表示を行うことが可能な液晶表示装置において、上述のような画素のエッジ部においても効果的に配向分割を行う手法を採用したことにより、透過表示及び反射表示ともに残像等の表示不良が抑えられ、さらには高コントラストで広視野角の表示が可能な液晶表示装置を得ることが可能となる。
【００１５】
また本発明の液晶表示装置において、隣合うドット領域の間に形成するブラックマトリクスについて、前記画素電極及び共通電極のうちその外縁が相対的に内側に位置する電極の外縁よりも、該ブラックマトリクスが外側に形成されてなるものとすることができる。従来の液晶表示装置では、画素のエッジ部（外縁部分）はブラックマトリクスで覆い隠すのが一般的であるが、本発明の液晶表示装置によれば、斜め電界によりエッジ部の液晶も駆動することが可能なため、画素電極の外縁と共通電極の外縁とでずれた部分についても明るい表示を確保することができ、ブラックマトリクスの面積を従来に比して小さくすることができる。したがって、本発明の構成においては、上述のように画素電極及び共通電極のうち、その外縁が相対的に内側に位置する電極の外縁よりも外側にブラックマトリクスを配設し、その構成により一層明るい表示を得ることが可能となるのである。
【００１６】
なお、本発明の液晶表示装置において、前記画素電極には二端子型非線形素子が接続されてなるものとすることができる。この二端子型非線形素子としては、例えば、金属−絶縁膜−金属（ＭＩＭ）型非線型素子の構造を有した薄膜ダイオード（ＴＦＤ）素子を例示することができる。
【００１７】
また、本発明においては、電極に開口部（例えばスリット状の開口部）を設けることにより、双方の基板上の電極間に発生する電界（ポテンシャル線）が開口部の近傍で斜めに歪み、この歪んだ斜め電界の作用によって液晶の配向規制を容易に実現することができるのである。他方、電極上に凸部（例えば誘電体突起）を設けた場合には、液晶層の中に突出した突起物の作用によって液晶の配向方向を規制することができる。
【００１８】
次に、本発明の電子機器は、上記本発明の液晶表示装置を備えたことを特徴とする。この構成によれば、使用環境によらずに明るく、高コントラスト、広視野角の液晶表示部を備えた電子機器を提供することができ、特に透過表示を重視した電子機器としては好適となる。
【００１９】
【発明の実施の形態】
［第１の実施の形態］
以下、本発明に係る実施形態について図面を参照しつつ説明する。なお、各図において、各層や各部材を図面上で認識可能な程度の大きさとするため、各層や各部材毎に縮尺を異ならせてある。
【００２０】
以下に示す本実施の形態の液晶表示装置は、スイッチング素子として薄膜ダイオード（Ｔｈｉｎ Ｆｉｌｍ Ｄｉｏｄｅ， 以下、ＴＦＤと略記する）を用いたアクティブマトリクス型の液晶表示装置の例であり、特に反射表示と透過表示とを可能にした半透過反射型の液晶表示装置である。
図１は、本実施の形態の液晶表示装置１０についての等価回路を示している。この液晶表示装置１０は、走査信号駆動回路１１及びデータ信号駆動回路１２を含んでいる。液晶表示装置１０には、信号線、すなわち複数の走査線１３と、該走査線１３と交差する複数のデータ線１４とが設けられ、走査線１３は走査信号駆動回路１１により、データ線１４はデータ信号駆動回路１２により駆動される。そして、各画素領域１５において、走査線１３とデータ線１４との間にＴＦＤ素子４と液晶表示要素１６（液晶層）とが直列に接続されている。なお、図１では、ＴＦＤ素子４が走査線１３側に接続され、液晶表示要素１６がデータ線１４側に接続されているが、これとは逆にＴＦＤ素子４をデータ線１４側に、液晶表示要素１６を走査線１３側に設ける構成としても良い。
【００２１】
次に、図２に基づいて、本実施の形態の液晶表示装置に具備された電極の平面構造について説明する。図２に示すように、本実施の形態の液晶表示装置では、走査線１３にＴＦＤ素子４を介して接続された平面視矩形状の画素電極９がマトリクス状に設けられており、該画素電極９と紙面垂直方向に対向して共通電極１４が短冊状（ストライプ状）に設けられている。共通電極１４は、データ線からなり走査線１３と交差する形のストライプ形状を有している。本実施の形態において、各画素電極９が形成された個々の領域が１つのドット領域であり、該マトリクス状に配置された各ドット領域毎に表示が可能な構造になっている。
【００２２】
また、１つのドット領域内には、開口部２０ａを備える反射膜２０が形成されており、この反射膜２０が形成された領域が反射表示領域となり、その内側の反射膜２０が形成されていない領域（開口部２０ａの内側領域）が透過表示領域となる。
【００２３】
ここでＴＦＤ素子４は、例えば図３及び図４に示すような構成を具備している。図３はＴＦＤ素子４の構成を説明するための平面図であって、図４は図３に示したＢ−Ｂ’断面図である。
図３に示すように、ＴＦＤ素子４は走査線１３と画素電極９とを接続するスイッチング素子であって、図４にも示すように、基板２上に下地絶縁膜３を介して配設されている。そして、ＴＦＤ素子４は、Ｔａを主成分とする第１導電膜６と、第１導電膜６の表面に形成され、Ｔａ２Ｏ３を主成分とする絶縁膜７と、絶縁膜７の表面に形成され、Ｃｒを主成分とする第２導電膜８とから構成されている。そして、ＴＦＤ素子４の第１導電膜６が走査線１３に接続され、第２導電膜８が画素電極５に接続されている。
【００２４】
次に、図５に基づいて本実施の形態の液晶表示装置１０の断面構造について説明する。図５は図２のＡ−Ａ’線に沿う断面の概略構成を示す図である。
図５に示すように、本実施の形態の液晶表示装置１０は、ＴＦＤアレイ基板１８とこれに対向配置された対向基板２５との間に、初期配向状態が垂直配向を呈する誘電異方性が負の液晶からなる液晶層５０が挟持された構成を具備し、当該液晶表示装置１０の表示面とは異なる側、すなわち対向基板２５の背面側にはバックライト６４が配設されている。
【００２５】
対向基板２５は、石英、ガラス等の透光性材料からなる基板本体２５Ａの表面にアルミニウム、銀等の反射率の高い金属膜からなる反射膜２０が形成されている。上述したように、反射膜２０の形成領域が反射表示領域Ｒとなり、反射膜２０の非形成領域（開口部２０ａの内側）が透過表示領域Ｔとなる。
【００２６】
反射表示領域Ｒ内に位置する反射膜２０上、及び透過表示領域Ｔ２内に位置する基板本体２５Ａ上に、カラーフィルターを構成する色素層２２が設けられている。この色素層２２は、隣接するドット領域毎に赤（Ｒ）、緑（Ｇ）、青（Ｂ）の異なる色の色素層が配置されており、隣接する３つのドット領域で１つの画素を構成する。
【００２７】
カラーフィルターの色素層２２の上には反射表示領域Ｒに対応する位置に絶縁膜２１が形成されている。絶縁膜２１は例えば膜厚が２μｍ±１μｍ程度のアクリル樹脂等の有機膜からなり、反射表示領域Ｒと透過表示領域Ｔとの境界付近において、自身の層厚が連続的に変化するべく傾斜面を有している。ここで、絶縁膜２１が存在しない部分の液晶層５０の厚みが２〜６μｍ程度であるから、反射表示領域Ｒにおける液晶層５０の厚みは透過表示領域Ｔにおける液晶層５０の厚みの約半分となる。つまり、絶縁膜２１は、自身の膜厚によって反射表示領域Ｒと透過表示領域Ｔとの液晶層５０の層厚を異ならせる液晶層厚調整層として機能している。
【００２８】
そして、絶縁膜２１の表面を含む対向基板２５の表面には、インジウム錫酸化物（Ｉｎｄｉｕｍ Ｔｉｎ Ｏｘｉｄｅ， 以下、ＩＴＯと略記する）等の透明導電膜からなる共通電極１４が形成されている。なお、図５において共通電極１４は、紙面垂直方向に延びる形のストライプ状に形成されており、該紙面垂直方向に並んで形成されたドット領域の各々に共通の電極として構成されている。また、共通電極１４上には、液晶層５０の液晶分子に対して垂直配向性を付与する垂直配向膜１７が形成されている。
【００２９】
一方、ＴＦＤアレイ基板１８側は、ガラスや石英等の透光性材料からなる基板本体１８Ａ上（基板本体１８Ａ内面側）に、ＩＴＯ等の透明導電膜からなる画素電極９、垂直配向膜１９が順次形成されている。なお、ＴＦＤアレイ基板１８、対向基板２５の双方の配向膜１７，１９には、ともに垂直配向処理が施されているが、ラビングなどのプレチルトを付与する手段は施されていない。
【００３０】
また、ＴＦＤアレイ基板１８の表示面側、及び対向基板２５の背面側には、それぞれ基板本体側から位相差板４３，４１、偏光板４４，４２が設けられている。位相差板４３，４１は可視光の波長に対して略１／４波長の位相差を持つものであり、この位相差板４３，４１と偏光板４４，４２との組み合わせによりＴＦＤアレイ基板１８側及び対向基板２５側の双方から液晶層５０に略円偏光が入射されるようになっている。また、対向基板２５の背面側にあたる液晶セルの外側には、光源６１、リフレクタ６２、導光板６３などを有するバックライト６４が設置されている。
【００３１】
ここで、本実施の形態の液晶表示装置１０においては、液晶層５０の液晶分子を配向規制するために、図２及び図５に示すように、画素電極９と共通電極１４とを平面的に位置をずらして構成している。つまり、画素電極９の外縁Ｘ１，Ｘ２が、共通電極１４の外縁Ｙ１，Ｙ２よりも内側若しくは外側に配設されており、例えば画素電極９の外縁Ｘ１は共通電極１４の外縁Ｙ１よりも内側（当該ドット領域内側）に配設され、画素電極９の外縁Ｘ２は共通電極１４の外縁Ｙ２よりも外側（当該ドット領域外側）に配設されている。
【００３２】
以上のような構成によれば、以下のような効果を発現することができるようになる。
つまり、一般的には、ラビング処理を施さない垂直配向膜上に配向した負の誘電異方性を有する液晶分子に電圧を印加すると、液晶の倒れる方向に規制がないので無秩序な方向に倒れ、配向不良が生じることとなる。
しかしながら、本実施の形態では、矩形状の画素電極９とストライプ状の共通電極１４とをドット領域内において位置をずらして配設しているため、その位置ずれした領域で各電極９，１４間に斜め電界（図５参照）が生じ、該斜め電界に応じて、初期状態で垂直配向した液晶分子の、電圧印加により倒れる方向が規制されることとなる。
【００３３】
その結果、液晶配向不良に基づくディスクリネーションの発生が抑制されるため、ディスクリネーションの発生に伴う残像や斜め方向から観察したときのざらざらとしたしみ状のムラ等が発生し難い高品質な表示が得られる。また、特にドット領域のエッジ部分（外縁部分）において各電極を位置ずれした構成とし、液晶の配向規制を行うものとしているため、特にドット領域のエッジ部分（外縁部分）においても階調表示が可能となり、ドット領域全体で更に明るい表示を実現することが可能とされている。
【００３４】
なお、本実施形態の液晶表示装置１０では、反射表示領域Ｒに絶縁膜２１を設けたことによって反射表示領域Ｒの液晶層５０の厚みを透過表示領域Ｔの液晶層５０の厚みの略半分と小さくすることができるので、反射表示に寄与するリタデーションと透過表示に寄与するリタデーションを略等しくすることができ、これによりコントラストの向上が図られている。
【００３５】
［第２の実施の形態］
次に、第２の実施の形態の液晶表示装置について、図面を参照しつつ説明する。
図６は第２の実施の形態の液晶表示装置１００について、断面構造（ｂ）と、その電極の平面構成（ａ）を模式的に示す図である。本実施の形態の液晶表示装置１００の基本構成は第１の実施の形態と略同じであるため、図６において図５と共通の構成要素には同一の符号を付し、詳細な説明は省略する。なお、図６（ｂ）は図６（ａ）のＣ−Ｃ’断面を模式的に示す図である。
【００３６】
第２の実施の形態の液晶表示装置１００では、画素電極９及び共通電極１４に対してスリット状の開口部７２，７１をそれぞれ配設した。特に、ドット領域内において、画素電極９に形成した開口部７２と、共通電極１４に形成した開口部７１とは、それぞれ互い違いの位置に形成され、つまり、任意の開口部７２（７１）と、これに隣接する開口部とは異なる電極側に形成されている。
【００３７】
そして、開口部７２，７１のうちドット領域内で最も外縁側に形成された開口部を備える電極の外縁が、他方の電極の外縁よりも外側に配設されている。つまり、図６に示したように外縁Ｘ１，Ｙ１側、及び外縁Ｘ２，Ｙ２側の双方において、画素電極９側の開口部７２が相対的に外縁に近い位置に形成されており、該画素電極９の外縁Ｘ１，Ｘ２が、共通電極１４の外縁Ｙ１，Ｙ２よりも外側に形成されている。
【００３８】
このような構成を具備する第２の実施の形態の液晶表示装置では、画素電極９と共通電極１４の双方にスリット状の開口部７２，７１がそれぞれ形成されているため、図６に示したように、開口部７２，７１に対応して各電極９，１４間に斜め電界が生じ、該斜め電界に応じて、初期状態で垂直配向した液晶分子の、電圧印加により倒れる方向が規制されることとなる。また、開口部７２，７１が、上述したように互い違いの位置に形成されているため、図６に示したように液晶分子の倒れる方向が一層正確に規制され、配向不良の発生する領域が少ないものとなる。つまり、液晶分子の倒れる方向が不連続となる領域が少なくなり、液晶分子の配向分割が良好に行われるようになるのである。
【００３９】
また、ドット領域のエッジ部分（外縁部分）においても、第１の実施の形態と同様に各電極９，１４を位置ずれした構成とし、該構成により発生する斜め電界に基づいて液晶分子の配向規制を行うものとしているため、特にドット領域のエッジ部分（外縁部分）においても階調表示が可能となり、ドット領域全体で更に明るい表示を実現することが可能とされている。
【００４０】
したがって、本実施の形態の液晶表示装置１００では、ドット領域全体、ひいては表示領域全体において液晶配向不良に基づくディスクリネーションの発生が抑制され、残像や斜め方向から観察したときのざらざらとしたしみ状のムラ等が発生し難い高品質な表示が得られるようになる。
【００４１】
［第３の実施の形態］
次に、第３の実施の形態の液晶表示装置について、図面を参照しつつ説明する。
図７は第３の実施の形態の液晶表示装置１１０について、断面構造（ｂ）と、その電極の平面構成（ａ）を模式的に示す図である。本実施の形態の液晶表示装置１１０の基本構成は第２の実施の形態と略同じであるため、図７において図６と共通の構成要素には同一の符号を付し、詳細な説明は省略する。なお、図７（ｂ）は図７（ａ）のＤ−Ｄ’断面を模式的に示す図である。
【００４２】
第３の実施の形態の液晶表示装置１１０では、画素電極９及び共通電極１４に対してスリット状の開口部７２ａ，７１がそれぞれ配設されており、特に画素電極９に形成された開口部７２ａは、図７（ａ）に示すように、共通電極１４に形成された開口部７１の周りを取り囲む形にて、好ましくは該開口部７１の周りを取り囲む略矩形状にて形成されている。
【００４３】
また、ドット領域内において、画素電極９に形成した開口部７２ａと、共通電極１４に形成した開口部７１とは、それぞれ互い違いの位置に形成され、つまり、任意の開口部７２（７１）と、これに隣接する開口部とは異なる電極側に形成されている。さらに、この場合も、開口部７２ａ，７１のうちドット領域内で最も外縁側に形成された開口部を備える電極の外縁が、他方の電極の外縁よりも外側に配設されている。つまり、図７に示したように外縁Ｘ１，Ｙ１側、及び外縁Ｘ２，Ｙ２側の双方において、画素電極９側の開口部７２ａが相対的に外縁に近い位置に形成されており、該画素電極９の外縁Ｘ１，Ｘ２が、共通電極１４の外縁Ｙ１，Ｙ２よりも外側に形成されている。
【００４４】
このような構成を具備する第３の実施の形態の液晶表示装置では、画素電極９と共通電極１４の双方にスリット状の開口部７２ａ，７１がそれぞれ形成されているため、図７に示したように、開口部７２ａ，７１に対応して各電極９，１４間に斜め電界が生じ、該斜め電界に応じて、初期状態で垂直配向した液晶分子の、電圧印加により倒れる方向が規制されることとなる。しかも、画素電極９の開口部７２ａが、共通電極１４の開口部７１を取り囲む形にて形成されているため、図７（ａ）に示すように開口部７１を中心として、略３６０°の全方向に液晶分子が倒れることとなる。
【００４５】
また、第２の実施の形態と同様に、開口部７２ａ，７１が、上述したように互い違いの位置に形成されているため、図７に示したように、液晶分子の倒れる方向が不連続となる領域が少なくなり、液晶分子の配向分割が良好に行われるようになる。また、ドット領域のエッジ部分（外縁部分）においても、第２の実施の形態と同様に各電極９，１４を位置ずれした構成とし、該構成により発生する斜め電界に基づいて液晶分子の配向規制を行うものとしているため、特にドット領域のエッジ部分（外縁部分）においても階調表示が可能となり、ドット領域全体で更に明るい表示を実現することが可能とされている。
【００４６】
なお、図７に示したように、画素電極９に形成した開口部７２ａの開口幅（スリット幅）、及び共通電極１４に形成した開口部７１の開口幅（スリット幅）をＷとした場合、画素電極９と共通電極１４とのズレ幅Ｌは、概ねＷ／２とするのが好ましい。このような構成によると、各電極９，１４に形成した開口部７２ａ，７１と同じ効果で、ドット領域のエッジ部分（外縁部分）から該ドット領域の内側へ斜め電界を印加させることが可能となる。特にズレ幅ＬがＷ／２よりも小さくなると、斜め電界の効果が小さくなる場合があり、一方、ズレ幅ＬがＷ／２よりも大きくなると、電極の形成されていない領域が大きくなり、該電極の形成されていない領域では液晶の駆動が行われないため、結果的に開口率の低下が生じることとなる。なお、これらスリットの開口幅Ｗとズレ幅Ｌとの関係は、その他の実施の形態についても同様の構成を適用することが好ましく、具体的には、開口幅Ｗ＝１０μｍ程度、ズレ幅Ｌ＝５μｍ程度とすることができる。
【００４７】
［第４の実施の形態］
次に、第４の実施の形態の液晶表示装置について、図面を参照しつつ説明する。
図８は第４の実施の形態の液晶表示装置１２０について、断面構造（ｂ）と、その電極の平面構成（ａ）を模式的に示す図である。本実施の形態の液晶表示装置１２０の基本構成は第２の実施の形態と略同じであるため、図８において図６と共通の構成要素には同一の符号を付し、詳細な説明は省略する。なお、図８（ｂ）は図８（ａ）のＥ−Ｅ’断面を模式的に示す図である。
【００４８】
第４の実施の形態の液晶表示装置１２０では、第３の実施の形態の液晶表示装置１１０と異なり、画素電極９に形成した開口部７２と、共通電極１４に形成した開口部７１との位置をそれぞれ逆に構成した。つまり、本実施の形態では、共通電極１４側に対して、ドット領域内における最外縁の開口部が形成されており、それに伴って共通電極１４の外縁が画素電極の外縁よりも外側に形成されている。
【００４９】
このような構成を具備する第４の実施の形態の液晶表示装置についても、画素電極９と共通電極１４の双方にスリット状の開口部７２，７１がそれぞれ形成されているため、開口部７２，７１に対応して各電極９，１４間に斜め電界が生じ、該斜め電界に応じて、初期状態で垂直配向した液晶分子の、電圧印加により倒れる方向が規制されることとなる。また、開口部７２，７１が互い違いの位置に形成されているため、液晶分子の倒れる方向が不連続となる領域が少なくなり、液晶分子の配向分割が良好に行われるようになる。さらに、ドット領域のエッジ部分（外縁部分）においても、第２の実施の形態と同様に各電極９，１４を位置ずれした構成とし、該構成により発生する斜め電界に基づいて液晶分子の配向規制を行うものとしているため、特にドット領域のエッジ部分（外縁部分）においても階調表示が可能となり、ドット領域全体で更に明るい表示を実現することが可能とされている。
【００５０】
なお、図８に示した第４の実施の形態の液晶表示装置１２０においても、画素電極９に形成された開口部７２を、例えば図７に示すように、共通電極１４に形成された開口部７１の周りを取り囲む態様にて構成することも可能である。
【００５１】
第２、第３、第４の実施の形態から分かるように、本発明では、ドット領域内において、画素電極９及び共通電極１４に形成する開口部の態様、つまり開口部の形成位置によっては、例えば図９に示したように、画素電極９の外縁が共通電極１４の外縁よりも内側に位置するように構成したり、また図１０に示したように、画素電極９の外縁が共通電極１４の外縁よりも内側に位置するように構成したり、適宜選択することができる。また、図２に示したように、一方の外縁側では、画素電極９の外縁を共通電極１４の外縁よりも内側に構成し、他方の外縁側では、画素電極９の外縁を共通電極１４の外縁よりも外側に構成することも可能である。
【００５２】
また、上記各実施の形態では、図１１に示すように画素電極９及び共通電極１４の双方にスリット状の開口部７２，７１が形成され、該開口部７２，７１により斜め電界を生じさせ、該斜め電界により液晶分子が配向規制されているが、例えば図１２に示すように、画素電極９及び／又は共通電極１４に液晶層５０側に突出する突起７３を形成して液晶分子の配向規制を行うことも可能である。
【００５３】
図１２に示した突起７３は、断面が三角形状で、その平面形状が上記実施の形態の開口部と同様、スリット状に形成されており、アクリル樹脂等の誘電体材料から構成されている。なお、突起７３には、その表面を覆うように垂直配向性の配向膜が形成されており、画素電極９及び／又は共通電極１４に対して開口部とともに、或いは突起のみで液晶分子の配向規制を行う構成とすることができる。
【００５４】
さらに、上記各実施の形態について、図１３に示すように、隣合うドット領域の間に形成するブラックマトリクスＢＭを、画素電極９及び共通電極１４のうちその外縁が相対的に内側に位置する電極の外縁（図１３では共通電極１４の外縁Ｙ１）よりも外側に形成することが好ましい。
一般的に、ドット領域のエッジ部（外縁部分）は、液晶の駆動を行い難いためブラックマトリクスＢＭで覆い隠すものである。
しかしながら、上記各実施の形態の液晶表示装置によれば、エッジ部に斜め電界を生じさせ、該斜め電界によりエッジ部の液晶についても駆動可能なため、画素電極９の外縁Ｘ１と共通電極１４の外縁Ｙ１とでずれた部分についても明るい表示を確保することができ、ブラックマトリクスＢＭの面積を従来に比して小さくすることができる。したがって、例えば図１３のように共通電極１４の外縁Ｙ１よりも外側にブラックマトリクスＢＭを配設して、一層明るい表示を得ることが可能となるのである。
【００５５】
［電子機器］
次に、本発明の上記実施の形態の液晶表示装置を備えた電子機器の具体例について説明する。
図１４は、携帯電話の一例を示した斜視図である。図１４において、符号５００は携帯電話本体を示し、符号５０１は上記液晶表示装置を用いた表示部を示している。このような電子機器は、上記実施の形態の液晶表示装置を用いた表示部を備えているので、使用環境によらずに明るく、コントラストが高く、広視野角の液晶表示部を備えた電子機器を実現することができる。なお、特に透過表示の際には明るく高コントラストの表示を得ることができるため、透過表示を重視した電子機器として提供可能となる。
【００５６】
以上、本発明の実施の形態について、その一例を説明したが、本発明の技術範囲はこれらに限定されるものではなく、本発明の趣旨を逸脱しない範囲において種々の変更を加えることが可能である。例えば上記実施の形態では位相差板４１，４２を単板で構成したが、この代わりに、１／２波長板と１／４波長板との積層体として構成してもよい。この積層体は広帯域円偏光板として機能し、黒表示をより無彩色化にすることができる。さらに、上記実施形態では、液晶層厚調整層として絶縁膜２１を形成しているが、必ずしも形成する必要はなく、また対向基板２５側の基板本体（下基板）２５Ａ上に形成するのみならず、ＴＦＤアレイ基板１８側の基板本体（上基板）１８Ａの内面側（液晶層側）に形成することも可能である。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】第１実施形態の液晶表示装置の等価回路図。
【図２】図１の液晶表示装置の電極構成を平面的に示す説明図。
【図３】図１の液晶表示装置に採用したスイッチング素子の構成を示す平面模式図。
【図４】図３のＢ−Ｂ’断面を示す模式図。
【図５】図１の液晶表示装置の断面構成を示す模式図。
【図６】第２の実施の形態の液晶表示装置について断面構成を示す模式図。
【図７】第３の実施の形態の液晶表示装置について断面構成を示す模式図。
【図８】第４の実施の形態の液晶表示装置について断面構成を示す模式図。
【図９】本実施の形態に対して採用可能な電極構成の一例を平面的に示す説明図。
【図１０】本実施の形態に対して採用可能な電極構成の一例を平面的に示す説明図。
【図１１】電極に対して形成した開口部の一構成例について示す断面模式図。
【図１２】電極に対して形成した開口部及び突起の一構成例について示す断面模式図。
【図１３】ブラックマトリクスの一形成例を示す断面模式図。
【図１４】本発明の電子機器の一例を示す斜視図。
【符号の説明】
９…画素電極、１４…共通電極、１８…ＴＦＤアレイ基板、２０…反射膜、２１…絶縁膜（液晶層厚調整層）、２５…対向基板、５０…液晶層、７１，７２，７２ａ…開口部、７３…突起、Ｒ…反射表示領域、Ｔ…透過表示領域[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying images with high contrast and a wide viewing angle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a technique for obtaining a display with a wide viewing angle in a liquid crystal display device, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a transflective liquid crystal display device using vertically aligned liquid crystal. The features are the following three points.
(1) A "VA (Vertical Alignment) mode" in which a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy is vertically aligned with respect to a substrate and the liquid crystal is tilted by applying a voltage.
(2) A multi-gap structure in which the liquid crystal layer thickness (cell gap) of the transmissive display area and the reflective display area is different.
(3) The transmissive display area is a regular octagon or a circle, and a projection is provided at the center of the transmissive display area on the opposing substrate so that the liquid crystal falls isotropically in this area. That is, an "alignment division structure" is adopted.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-350853
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the liquid crystal display device of Patent Literature 1, a projection is provided at the center of the transmissive display region to regulate the alignment direction of the liquid crystal. Not been. Further, there is a fear that poor alignment may occur even at the edge of the pixel, and the alignment of the liquid crystal is not completely regulated only by providing a projection in the center of the transmissive display region as in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1. In addition, an orientation disorder called disclination occurs, which may cause display defects such as an afterimage. In addition, since each alignment region of the liquid crystal has a different viewing angle characteristic, when the liquid crystal display device is viewed from an oblique direction, a rough spot-like unevenness is visually recognized, which may lead to a decrease in display characteristics.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and display defects such as afterimages are suppressed, and further, high brightness and high contrast can be obtained. In particular, a display with a wide viewing angle can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible liquid crystal display device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a liquid crystal display device of the present invention is a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, wherein the liquid crystal display device is provided on an inner surface side of one of the pair of substrates. Has a rectangular pixel electrode formed on the inner surface side of the other substrate, and the liquid crystal layer has a negative dielectric anisotropy in which the initial alignment state is vertical alignment. As a means for regulating the direction in which the vertically aligned liquid crystal falls, the outer edge of the pixel electrode is provided inside or outside the outer edge of the common electrode. I do.
[0007]
According to such a liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal layer is composed of a liquid crystal having an initial alignment state of vertical alignment and negative dielectric anisotropy, and the direction of tilting (tilting direction) of the vertically aligned liquid crystal is rectangular. Is regulated based on the positional relationship between the pixel electrode and the strip-shaped common electrode, alignment disturbance is unlikely to occur, and display defects such as afterimages due to the alignment disturbance hardly occur. In other words, by arranging the outer edge of the pixel electrode inside or outside the outer edge of the common electrode, an oblique electric field is generated between the electrodes, and the direction in which the liquid crystal falls is regulated in accordance with the oblique electric field. In addition, it is possible to sufficiently restrict the tilt direction of the liquid crystal without forming a projection as described in Patent Document 1 on the electrode. As a result, the occurrence of display defects due to the liquid crystal alignment defect is suppressed, and in particular, the tilt direction of the liquid crystal can be restricted even at the edge (outer edge region) of the pixel, so that the display characteristics of the entire display region are further improved. It became possible.
[0008]
As a further specific configuration of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a strip-shaped common electrode and a rectangular pixel electrode include a portion where at least a plane overlaps, and a plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped common electrode. A parallel configuration can be adopted. In this case, if the outer edge of one pixel electrode is formed inside or outside with respect to the width direction of the common electrode, the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules at the edge portion of the pixel electrode can be effectively set as described above. Can be regulated.
[0009]
Further, in the pixel electrode and / or the common electrode, a slit-shaped opening and / or a convex portion is formed on the electrode as means for regulating a direction in which the vertically aligned liquid crystal falls, The outer edge of the electrode having the opening and / or the convex portion formed at the outermost edge side in the pixel among the openings and / or the convex portions is disposed outside the outer edge of the other electrode. can do.
[0010]
In this case, of the openings and / or protrusions formed in the pixel electrode and / or the common electrode, the electrode provided with the opening and / or protrusion formed on the outermost edge side in the pixel (for example, the pixel electrode Is disposed outside the outer edge of the other electrode (for example, the common electrode), so that the outer edge of the other electrode (for example, the common electrode) is provided with an opening (also referred to as a terminal opening). Therefore, for the opening and / or the convex portion formed on the outermost edge side in the pixel, the terminal opening is formed on the electrode on the other side, and the liquid crystal molecules whose alignment is regulated by these are determined. Orientation disorder is less likely to occur, and as a result, display defects such as afterimages are more unlikely to occur.Moreover, when viewed from an oblique direction, it is possible to eliminate defects such as coarse spot-like unevenness being visually recognized. It becomes.
[0011]
An opening and / or a protrusion for regulating the alignment of the liquid crystal described above is formed in both the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and an arbitrary opening and / or a protrusion and an opening adjacent thereto are formed. The and / or convex portions may be formed on different electrode sides, respectively. In this case, since adjacent openings and / or protrusions are formed on different electrodes, alignment disturbance is unlikely to occur in liquid crystal molecules whose alignment is regulated by these, and as a result, display defects such as afterimages are caused. Is more unlikely to occur, and it is also possible to eliminate problems such as a coarse spot-like unevenness when viewed from an oblique direction. Then, with respect to the openings and / or protrusions alternately formed in the respective electrodes as described above, the electrodes and / or protrusions formed on the outermost edge side in the pixel among the openings and / or protrusions are different from the electrodes on the other side. By forming the terminal opening in the pixel, more complete alignment division can be performed from the center to the edge of the pixel, and a liquid crystal display device having extremely high display characteristics can be provided.
[0012]
When the width of the opening and / or the projection is W, the outer edge of the pixel electrode is disposed inside or outside by approximately W / 2 from the outer edge of the common electrode. Can be. In this case, it is possible to apply an oblique electric field inward from the edge of the pixel with the same effect as the opening and / or the projection formed in the electrode. Here, if the deviation between the outer edge of the pixel electrode and the outer edge of the common electrode is less than W / 2, the effect of the oblique electric field may be reduced. If the deviation is larger than W / 2, no electrode is formed. The liquid crystal in the portion is difficult to move, and the aperture ratio is reduced, which is not preferable.
[0013]
Further, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a transmissive display area for performing transmissive display in one dot area, and a reflective display area for performing reflective display, and at least one of the pair of substrates. Between the liquid crystal layer, a liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment layer that makes the thickness of the liquid crystal layer different between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region may be provided at least in the reflective display region. .
[0014]
According to such a liquid crystal display device, since the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer for making the thickness of the liquid crystal layer different between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region is provided, the retardation difference between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region is reduced. Is done. That is, in the reflective display, light incident from the display surface side passes through the liquid crystal layer twice and is provided for display, whereas in the transmissive display, the light incident from the back side passes once through the liquid crystal layer and is provided. Since the display is used for display, a retardation difference occurs in each display. In the above-described configuration, the retardation difference is reduced by forming a liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment layer, and a decrease in contrast based on the retardation difference is eliminated. In a liquid crystal display device capable of performing high-contrast display in both transmissive display and reflective display in this manner, the above-described method of effectively performing alignment division even at an edge portion of a pixel is employed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a display defect such as an afterimage in both the transmissive display and the reflective display, and to obtain a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying a high contrast and a wide viewing angle.
[0015]
In the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, with respect to a black matrix formed between adjacent dot regions, the outer edge of the pixel electrode and the common electrode has a greater outer edge than the outer edge of an electrode located relatively inside. It can be formed on the outside. In a conventional liquid crystal display device, the edge portion (outer edge portion) of a pixel is generally covered with a black matrix. However, according to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the liquid crystal at the edge portion is also driven by an oblique electric field. Therefore, a bright display can be ensured even at a portion shifted between the outer edge of the pixel electrode and the outer edge of the common electrode, and the area of the black matrix can be reduced as compared with the related art. Therefore, in the configuration of the present invention, as described above, of the pixel electrode and the common electrode, the black matrix is provided outside the outer edge of the electrode whose outer edge is located relatively inside, and the configuration is further brighter. The display can be obtained.
[0016]
In the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a two-terminal nonlinear element may be connected to the pixel electrode. As the two-terminal nonlinear element, for example, a thin film diode (TFD) element having a metal-insulating film-metal (MIM) type nonlinear element structure can be exemplified.
[0017]
Further, in the present invention, by providing openings (for example, slit-shaped openings) in the electrodes, an electric field (potential line) generated between the electrodes on both substrates is obliquely distorted in the vicinity of the openings. The regulation of the alignment of the liquid crystal can be easily realized by the effect of the distorted oblique electric field. On the other hand, when a projection (for example, a dielectric projection) is provided on the electrode, the orientation of the liquid crystal can be regulated by the action of the projection projecting into the liquid crystal layer.
[0018]
Next, an electronic device according to the present invention includes the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an electronic device including a liquid crystal display portion that is bright, has a high contrast, and has a wide viewing angle regardless of the use environment, and is particularly suitable as an electronic device that emphasizes transmissive display.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, the scale of each layer and each member is different so that each layer and each member have a size that can be recognized in the drawings.
[0020]
The liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment described below is an example of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device using a thin film diode (hereinafter abbreviated as TFD) as a switching element. This is a transflective liquid crystal display device that enables display.
FIG. 1 shows an equivalent circuit of the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment. The liquid crystal display device 10 includes a scanning signal driving circuit 11 and a data signal driving circuit 12. The liquid crystal display device 10 is provided with signal lines, that is, a plurality of scanning lines 13 and a plurality of data lines 14 intersecting with the scanning lines 13. Driven by the data signal drive circuit 12. In each pixel region 15, the TFD element 4 and the liquid crystal display element 16 (liquid crystal layer) are connected in series between the scanning line 13 and the data line. In FIG. 1, the TFD element 4 is connected to the scanning line 13 side, and the liquid crystal display element 16 is connected to the data line 14 side. Conversely, the TFD element 4 is connected to the data line 14 side, The display element 16 may be provided on the scanning line 13 side.
[0021]
Next, a planar structure of an electrode provided in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, the pixel electrodes 9 each having a rectangular shape in a plan view and connected to the scanning lines 13 via the TFD elements 4 are provided in a matrix. The common electrode 14 is provided in a strip shape (striped shape) so as to face the vertical direction of the drawing 9. The common electrode 14 is formed of a data line and has a stripe shape crossing the scanning line 13. In the present embodiment, each area in which each pixel electrode 9 is formed is one dot area, and has a structure capable of displaying each dot area arranged in a matrix.
[0022]
In one dot region, a reflection film 20 having an opening 20a is formed. The region where the reflection film 20 is formed becomes a reflection display region, and the reflection film 20 inside the reflection display region is not formed. The area (the area inside the opening 20a) is a transmissive display area.
[0023]
Here, the TFD element 4 has a configuration as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for example. FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining the configuration of the TFD element 4, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line BB 'shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the TFD element 4 is a switching element that connects the scanning line 13 and the pixel electrode 9, and is provided on the substrate 2 via the base insulating film 3 as shown in FIG. ing. The TFD element 4 is formed on the first conductive film 6 containing Ta as a main component and the surface of the first conductive film 6. 2 O 3 And a second conductive film 8 formed on the surface of the insulating film 7 and containing Cr as a main component. Then, the first conductive film 6 of the TFD element 4 is connected to the scanning line 13, and the second conductive film 8 is connected to the pixel electrode 5.
[0024]
Next, a sectional structure of the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cross section taken along line AA ′ of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the liquid crystal display device 10 according to the present embodiment has a dielectric anisotropy in which the initial alignment state is vertical between the TFD array substrate 18 and the opposing substrate 25 disposed opposite thereto. A backlight 64 is provided on a side different from the display surface of the liquid crystal display device 10, that is, on a back side of the counter substrate 25, having a configuration in which a liquid crystal layer 50 made of negative liquid crystal is sandwiched.
[0025]
The opposing substrate 25 has a reflection film 20 made of a metal film having a high reflectance such as aluminum or silver formed on a surface of a substrate main body 25A made of a light-transmitting material such as quartz or glass. As described above, the area where the reflective film 20 is formed becomes the reflective display area R, and the area where the reflective film 20 is not formed (the inside of the opening 20a) becomes the transmissive display area T.
[0026]
A dye layer 22 constituting a color filter is provided on the reflective film 20 located in the reflective display region R and on the substrate main body 25A located in the transmissive display region T2. In the pigment layer 22, pigment layers of different colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are arranged for each adjacent dot area, and one pixel is constituted by three adjacent dot areas. I do.
[0027]
On the dye layer 22 of the color filter, an insulating film 21 is formed at a position corresponding to the reflective display region R. The insulating film 21 is made of, for example, an organic film such as an acrylic resin having a thickness of about 2 μm ± 1 μm, and has an inclined surface near the boundary between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T so that its own layer thickness changes continuously. have. Here, since the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the portion where the insulating film 21 does not exist is about 2 to 6 μm, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the reflective display region R is about half the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the transmissive display region T. Become. That is, the insulating film 21 functions as a liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment layer that varies the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 between the reflective display region R and the transmissive display region T depending on its thickness.
[0028]
The common electrode 14 made of a transparent conductive film such as indium tin oxide (hereinafter abbreviated as ITO) is formed on the surface of the counter substrate 25 including the surface of the insulating film 21. In FIG. 5, the common electrode 14 is formed in a stripe shape extending in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper, and is configured as a common electrode for each of the dot regions formed side by side in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper. In addition, on the common electrode 14, a vertical alignment film 17 for giving vertical alignment to the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 50 is formed.
[0029]
On the other hand, on the TFD array substrate 18 side, a pixel electrode 9 made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO and a vertical alignment film 19 are formed on a substrate body 18A made of a translucent material such as glass or quartz (on the inner surface side of the substrate body 18A). They are formed sequentially. Note that both the alignment films 17 and 19 of the TFD array substrate 18 and the counter substrate 25 are subjected to vertical alignment processing, but are not provided with a means for imparting pretilt such as rubbing.
[0030]
Further, on the display surface side of the TFD array substrate 18 and on the back side of the counter substrate 25, retardation plates 43 and 41 and polarizing plates 44 and 42 are provided from the substrate body side, respectively. The phase difference plates 43 and 41 have a phase difference of approximately 1/4 wavelength with respect to the wavelength of visible light, and the combination of the phase difference plates 43 and 41 and the polarizing plates 44 and 42 makes the TFD array substrate 18 In addition, substantially circularly polarized light is incident on the liquid crystal layer 50 from both the counter substrate 25 side. A backlight 64 having a light source 61, a reflector 62, a light guide plate 63, and the like is provided outside the liquid crystal cell on the back side of the counter substrate 25.
[0031]
Here, in the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment, in order to regulate the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 50, the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14 are planarly arranged as shown in FIGS. The position is shifted. In other words, the outer edges X1 and X2 of the pixel electrode 9 are disposed inside or outside the outer edges Y1 and Y2 of the common electrode 14, for example, the outer edge X1 of the pixel electrode 9 is located inside the outer edge Y1 of the common electrode 14 ( The outer edge X2 of the pixel electrode 9 is disposed outside the outer edge Y2 of the common electrode 14 (outside the dot area).
[0032]
According to the above configuration, the following effects can be exhibited.
In other words, in general, when a voltage is applied to liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy aligned on a vertical alignment film that is not subjected to rubbing, the liquid crystal falls in a disordered direction because there is no regulation on the direction in which the liquid crystal falls. Poor alignment will occur.
However, in the present embodiment, since the rectangular pixel electrode 9 and the stripe-shaped common electrode 14 are arranged at shifted positions in the dot area, the positions of the electrodes 9 and 14 are shifted in the shifted area. An oblique electric field (see FIG. 5) is generated, and in accordance with the oblique electric field, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules that are vertically aligned in the initial state fall down by voltage application is regulated.
[0033]
As a result, since the occurrence of disclination due to poor liquid crystal alignment is suppressed, a high-quality display in which afterimages due to the occurrence of disclination and rough spot-like unevenness when observed from an oblique direction are unlikely to occur. Is obtained. In addition, the configuration is such that each electrode is displaced particularly at the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot region, and the alignment of the liquid crystal is regulated, so that gradation display is possible especially at the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot region. Thus, a brighter display can be realized in the entire dot area.
[0034]
In the liquid crystal display device 10 of the present embodiment, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the reflective display region R is reduced to approximately half the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50 in the transmissive display region T by providing the insulating film 21 in the reflective display region R. Since the size can be reduced, the retardation contributing to the reflective display and the retardation contributing to the transmissive display can be made substantially equal, thereby improving the contrast.
[0035]
[Second embodiment]
Next, a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cross-sectional structure (b) and a planar configuration (a) of an electrode of the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the second embodiment. Since the basic configuration of the liquid crystal display device 100 of the present embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same components in FIG. 6 as those in FIG. 5, and the detailed description is omitted. I do. FIG. 6B is a diagram schematically showing a cross section taken along the line CC ′ of FIG. 6A.
[0036]
In the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the second embodiment, slit-shaped openings 72 and 71 are provided for the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14, respectively. In particular, in the dot region, the opening 72 formed in the pixel electrode 9 and the opening 71 formed in the common electrode 14 are formed at alternate positions, that is, the arbitrary opening 72 (71) It is formed on the electrode side different from the opening adjacent thereto.
[0037]
The outer edge of the electrode having the opening formed on the outermost side in the dot region among the openings 72 and 71 is disposed outside the outer edge of the other electrode. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, on both the outer edges X1 and Y1 and the outer edges X2 and Y2, the opening 72 on the pixel electrode 9 side is formed at a position relatively closer to the outer edge. Nine outer edges X1, X2 are formed outside outer edges Y1, Y2 of the common electrode.
[0038]
In the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment having such a configuration, slit-shaped openings 72 and 71 are formed in both the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14, respectively. As described above, an oblique electric field is generated between the electrodes 9 and 14 corresponding to the openings 72 and 71, and in accordance with the oblique electric field, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules that are vertically aligned in the initial state fall due to voltage application is regulated. It will be. In addition, since the openings 72 and 71 are formed at alternate positions as described above, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules fall is more accurately regulated as shown in FIG. It will be. In other words, the region where the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules fall is discontinuous is reduced, and the orientation division of the liquid crystal molecules is favorably performed.
[0039]
Also at the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot region, the electrodes 9 and 14 are configured to be displaced similarly to the first embodiment, and the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is regulated based on the oblique electric field generated by the configuration. Therefore, gradation display can be performed particularly at the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot region, and a brighter display can be realized over the entire dot region.
[0040]
Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device 100 of the present embodiment, the occurrence of disclination based on the liquid crystal alignment failure is suppressed in the entire dot region, and thus in the entire display region, and the image has a rough image-like appearance when observed from an oblique direction. A high-quality display in which unevenness or the like hardly occurs can be obtained.
[0041]
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cross-sectional structure (b) and a planar configuration (a) of an electrode of the liquid crystal display device 110 according to the third embodiment. Since the basic configuration of the liquid crystal display device 110 of the present embodiment is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same components in FIG. 7 as those in FIG. 6, and the detailed description is omitted. I do. FIG. 7B is a diagram schematically showing a section taken along line DD ′ of FIG. 7A.
[0042]
In the liquid crystal display device 110 according to the third embodiment, slit-shaped openings 72a and 71 are provided for the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14, respectively. In particular, the openings 72a formed in the pixel electrode 9 are provided. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), is formed in a shape surrounding the opening 71 formed in the common electrode 14, preferably in a substantially rectangular shape surrounding the opening 71.
[0043]
In the dot area, the opening 72a formed in the pixel electrode 9 and the opening 71 formed in the common electrode 14 are formed at alternate positions, that is, an arbitrary opening 72 (71) is formed. It is formed on the electrode side different from the opening adjacent thereto. Further, also in this case, the outer edge of the electrode having the opening formed at the outermost edge side in the dot region among the openings 72a and 71 is disposed outside the outer edge of the other electrode. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, on both the outer edges X1 and Y1 and the outer edges X2 and Y2, the opening 72a on the pixel electrode 9 side is formed at a position relatively closer to the outer edge. Nine outer edges X1, X2 are formed outside outer edges Y1, Y2 of the common electrode.
[0044]
In the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment having such a configuration, slit-shaped openings 72a and 71 are formed in both the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14, respectively. As described above, an oblique electric field is generated between the electrodes 9 and 14 corresponding to the openings 72a and 71, and in accordance with the oblique electric field, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules that are vertically aligned in the initial state fall down by voltage application is regulated. It will be. Moreover, since the opening 72a of the pixel electrode 9 is formed so as to surround the opening 71 of the common electrode 14, the opening 72a of the pixel electrode 9 is substantially 360 ° around the opening 71 as shown in FIG. The liquid crystal molecules will fall in the direction.
[0045]
Further, as in the second embodiment, since the openings 72a and 71 are formed at alternate positions as described above, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules fall is discontinuous as shown in FIG. Region is reduced, and the alignment division of the liquid crystal molecules is performed satisfactorily. Also in the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot region, the electrodes 9 and 14 are configured to be displaced similarly to the second embodiment, and the alignment of liquid crystal molecules is regulated based on the oblique electric field generated by the configuration. Therefore, gradation display can be performed particularly at the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot region, and a brighter display can be realized over the entire dot region.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 7, when the opening width (slit width) of the opening 72a formed in the pixel electrode 9 and the opening width (slit width) of the opening 71 formed in the common electrode 14 are W, It is preferable that a deviation width L between the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14 is approximately W / 2. According to such a configuration, it is possible to apply an oblique electric field from the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot region to the inside of the dot region with the same effect as the openings 72a, 71 formed in the electrodes 9, 14. Become. In particular, when the deviation width L is smaller than W / 2, the effect of the oblique electric field may be reduced. On the other hand, when the deviation width L is larger than W / 2, the area where the electrode is not formed becomes large, and Since the liquid crystal is not driven in the region where the electrode is not formed, the aperture ratio is reduced as a result. The relationship between the opening width W of these slits and the shift width L is preferably the same as that of the other embodiments. Specifically, the opening width W is about 10 μm, and the shift width L is about 10 μm. It can be about 5 μm.
[0047]
[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a liquid crystal display device according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional structure (b) and a planar configuration (a) of an electrode of the liquid crystal display device 120 according to the fourth embodiment. Since the basic configuration of the liquid crystal display device 120 of the present embodiment is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, in FIG. 8, the same components as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted. I do. FIG. 8B is a diagram schematically showing a cross section taken along line EE ′ of FIG. 8A.
[0048]
In the liquid crystal display device 120 according to the fourth embodiment, unlike the liquid crystal display device 110 according to the third embodiment, the position of the opening 72 formed in the pixel electrode 9 and the position of the opening 71 formed in the common electrode 14 are different. Were constructed in reverse order. That is, in the present embodiment, the outermost edge opening in the dot region is formed on the common electrode 14 side, and accordingly, the outer edge of the common electrode 14 is formed outside the outer edge of the pixel electrode. ing.
[0049]
Also in the liquid crystal display device of the fourth embodiment having such a configuration, since the slit-shaped openings 72, 71 are formed in both the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14, respectively, the openings 72, 71 are formed. An oblique electric field is generated between the electrodes 9 and 14 corresponding to 71, and in accordance with the oblique electric field, the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules that are vertically aligned in the initial state fall down by voltage application is regulated. Further, since the openings 72 and 71 are formed at alternate positions, the number of regions in which the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules fall is discontinuous is reduced, and the alignment division of the liquid crystal molecules is performed favorably. Further, also at the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot region, the electrodes 9 and 14 are configured so as to be displaced similarly to the second embodiment, and the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is regulated based on the oblique electric field generated by the configuration. Therefore, gradation display can be performed particularly at the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot region, and a brighter display can be realized over the entire dot region.
[0050]
In the liquid crystal display device 120 according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the opening 72 formed in the pixel electrode 9 is also replaced with the opening 72 formed in the common electrode 14 as shown in FIG. It is also possible to configure in a mode surrounding the periphery of 71.
[0051]
As can be seen from the second, third, and fourth embodiments, according to the present invention, depending on the form of the opening formed in the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14 in the dot region, that is, depending on the formation position of the opening, For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the outer edge of the pixel electrode 9 is configured to be located inside the outer edge of the common electrode 14, or as shown in FIG. Can be configured so as to be located inside the outer edge of, or can be appropriately selected. As shown in FIG. 2, on one outer edge side, the outer edge of the pixel electrode 9 is formed inside the outer edge of the common electrode 14, and on the other outer edge side, the outer edge of the pixel electrode 9 is It is also possible to configure outside the outer edge.
[0052]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, slit-shaped openings 72, 71 are formed in both the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14, and an oblique electric field is generated by the openings 72, 71. The alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is regulated by the oblique electric field. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a projection 73 projecting toward the liquid crystal layer 50 is formed on the pixel electrode 9 and / or the common electrode 14 to regulate the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules. It is also possible to do.
[0053]
The projection 73 shown in FIG. 12 has a triangular cross section, a planar shape formed like a slit like the opening in the above-described embodiment, and is made of a dielectric material such as an acrylic resin. Note that a vertical alignment film is formed on the projection 73 so as to cover the surface thereof, and the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is regulated only with the opening with respect to the pixel electrode 9 and / or the common electrode 14 or only with the projection. Is performed.
[0054]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 13, a black matrix BM formed between adjacent dot regions is formed by an electrode whose outer edge is located relatively inside of the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14. (The outer edge Y1 of the common electrode 14 in FIG. 13).
Generally, the edge portion (outer edge portion) of the dot area is covered with the black matrix BM because it is difficult to drive the liquid crystal.
However, according to the liquid crystal display device of each of the above-described embodiments, since an oblique electric field is generated at the edge portion and the liquid crystal at the edge portion can be driven by the oblique electric field, the outer edge X1 of the pixel electrode 9 and the common electrode 14 can be driven. Bright display can be ensured even in a portion shifted from the outer edge Y1, and the area of the black matrix BM can be reduced as compared with the related art. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, by disposing the black matrix BM outside the outer edge Y1 of the common electrode 14, it is possible to obtain a brighter display.
[0055]
[Electronics]
Next, a specific example of an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal display device according to the above embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of a mobile phone. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 500 denotes a mobile phone main body, and reference numeral 501 denotes a display unit using the liquid crystal display device. Since such an electronic device includes a display portion using the liquid crystal display device of the above embodiment, the electronic device includes a liquid crystal display portion having a bright, high contrast, and wide viewing angle regardless of the use environment. Can be realized. In particular, since bright and high-contrast display can be obtained in the case of transmissive display, it can be provided as an electronic device that emphasizes transmissive display.
[0056]
As described above, an example of the embodiment of the present invention has been described, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. is there. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the retardation plates 41 and 42 are configured as a single plate, but may be configured as a laminated body of a 波長 wavelength plate and a 波長 wavelength plate instead. This laminate functions as a broadband circularly polarizing plate, and can make the black display more achromatic. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the insulating film 21 is formed as the liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer. However, the insulating film 21 is not necessarily formed, and is formed not only on the substrate body (lower substrate) 25A on the counter substrate 25 side. , Can be formed on the inner surface side (liquid crystal layer side) of the substrate body (upper substrate) 18A on the TFD array substrate 18 side.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a plan view of an electrode configuration of the liquid crystal display device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a configuration of a switching element employed in the liquid crystal display device of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a section taken along line BB ′ of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of the liquid crystal display device of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating an example of an electrode configuration that can be employed in the present embodiment.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a plan view of an example of an electrode configuration that can be employed in the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating one configuration example of an opening formed in an electrode.
FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one configuration example of an opening and a projection formed on an electrode.
FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of forming a black matrix.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an electronic device of the invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference numeral 9: pixel electrode, 14: common electrode, 18: TFD array substrate, 20: reflective film, 21: insulating film (liquid crystal layer thickness adjusting layer), 25: counter substrate, 50: liquid crystal layer, 71, 72, 72a: opening Part, 73: protrusion, R: reflective display area, T: transmissive display area

Claims (9)

一対の基板間に液晶層を挟持してなる液晶表示装置であって、
前記一対の基板のうち、一方の基板の内面側には短冊状の共通電極が形成される一方、他方の基板の内面側には矩形状の画素電極が形成されてなり、
前記液晶層は、初期配向状態が垂直配向を呈する誘電異方性が負の液晶から構成され、
前記垂直配向した液晶の倒れる方向を規制する手段として、前記画素電極の外縁が、前記共通電極の外縁よりも内側若しくは外側に配設された構成を具備することを特徴とする液晶表示装置。A liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates,
Among the pair of substrates, a strip-shaped common electrode is formed on the inner surface side of one substrate, and a rectangular pixel electrode is formed on the inner surface side of the other substrate,
The liquid crystal layer is composed of a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy in which an initial alignment state exhibits vertical alignment,
As a means for regulating the direction in which the vertically aligned liquid crystal falls, an outer edge of the pixel electrode is provided inside or outside an outer edge of the common electrode. 前記画素電極の外縁が、前記共通電極の外縁よりも内側若しくは外側に配設されたことで、各電極間に斜め電界が生じ、該斜め電界に応じて前記液晶の倒れる方向が規制されることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の液晶表示装置。Since the outer edge of the pixel electrode is provided inside or outside the outer edge of the common electrode, an oblique electric field is generated between the electrodes, and the direction in which the liquid crystal falls according to the oblique electric field is regulated. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein: 前記画素電極及び／又は共通電極には、前記垂直配向した液晶の倒れる方向を規制する手段として、該電極にスリット状の開口部及び／又は該電極上に凸部が形成されてなり、
前記開口部及び／又は凸部のうち画素内で最も外縁側に形成された開口部及び／又は凸部を備える電極の外縁が、他方の電極の外縁よりも外側に配設されてなることを特徴とする請求項１又は２に記載の液晶表示装置。In the pixel electrode and / or the common electrode, a slit-shaped opening and / or a convex portion is formed on the electrode as means for regulating a direction in which the vertically aligned liquid crystal falls,
Out of the openings and / or the protrusions, the outer edge of the electrode having the opening and / or the protrusion formed on the outermost edge side in the pixel is arranged outside the outer edge of the other electrode. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein: 前記開口部及び／又は凸部が、前記画素電極及び共通電極の双方に形成され、任意の開口部及び／又は凸部と、それに隣接する開口部及び／又は凸部とは、それぞれ異なる電極側に形成されてなることを特徴とする請求項３に記載の液晶表示装置。The opening and / or the protrusion are formed on both the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and the arbitrary opening and / or the protrusion and the adjacent opening and / or the protrusion are different from each other on the different electrode side. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal display device is formed. 前記開口部及び／又は凸部の幅をＷとした場合、前記画素電極の外縁は、前記共通電極の外縁よりも概ねＷ／２だけ内側若しくは外側に配設されてなることを特徴とする請求項３又は４に記載の液晶表示装置。When the width of the opening and / or the projection is W, the outer edge of the pixel electrode is disposed inside or outside by approximately W / 2 from the outer edge of the common electrode. Item 5. The liquid crystal display device according to item 3 or 4. 請求項１ないし５のいずれか１項に記載の液晶表示装置であって、１つのドット領域内に透過表示を行う透過表示領域と、反射表示を行う反射表示領域とを具備してなり、
前記一対の基板のうちの少なくとも一方の基板と前記液晶層との間に、前記反射表示領域と前記透過表示領域とで前記液晶層の層厚を異ならせる液晶層厚調整層が少なくとも前記反射表示領域に設けられてなることを特徴とする液晶表示装置。The liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a transmissive display area for performing transmissive display and a reflective display area for performing reflective display within one dot area,
Between at least one of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer, a liquid crystal layer thickness adjustment layer that varies the thickness of the liquid crystal layer between the reflective display region and the transmissive display region is at least the reflective display. A liquid crystal display device provided in a region. 請求項１ないし６のいずれか１項に記載の液晶表示装置であって、隣合うドット領域の間に形成するブラックマトリクスについて、前記画素電極及び共通電極のうちその外縁が相対的に内側に位置する電極の外縁よりも、該ブラックマトリクスが外側に形成されてなることを特徴とする液晶表示装置。7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein an outer edge of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is located relatively inward in a black matrix formed between adjacent dot areas. 8. A liquid crystal display device, wherein the black matrix is formed outside the outer edge of the electrode. 前記画素電極には、二端子型非線形素子が接続されてなることを特徴とする請求項１ないし７のいずれか１項に記載の液晶表示装置。8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a two-terminal nonlinear element is connected to the pixel electrode. 請求項１ないし８のいずれか１項に記載の液晶表示装置を備えたことを特徴とする電子機器。An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal display device according to claim 1.
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US20050036093A1 (en) 2005-02-17
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